Meeting Minutes
Town of Morristown
April 11, 2017
Present: Chris Coffin, Shawn Macaulay, Frank Putman
Absent: Gary Turner, David VanArnam
Also Present: Dean Hoffman, Tom Bell, Richard Johnson
Public Hearing-Local Law #1 of 2017: Rescheduled to May 9, 2017
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of Minutes of March 21, 2017: A motion was made by Councilman Coffin, and seconded by Councilman Macaulay, to approve the minutes of March 21, 2017 as presented.
Vote: Chris Coffin-Aye, Shawn Macaulay-Aye, Frank Putman-Aye
Correspondence: None
Public Comment 1
Darrell Merkel asked when the pledge was added to the meeting format. Supervisor Putman stated that the pledge was added earlier in 2017 at the request of Councilman Macaulay.
Old Business
1. Employee Handbook: Tabled due to a partial Board and availability of employees.
2. Sewer Districts Update (Supervisors 2017 Priority): Richard Johnson asked the Board for an update on District 2. Councilman Coffin stated that a modified agreement had been sent to the contractor and the Town was awaiting a response from them. He stated that it could be Fall 2017 before work is started.
3. Town Hall Project Update (Supervisors 2017 Priority): Tabled
4. 3 Year County Snow and Ice Agreement Update: Highway Superintendent Hoffman stated that the contract the Town had received will be the one the Board will be asked to approve. This will be on the May meeting agenda.
5. Local Law #1 of 2017 Property Tax Cap Override: Re-scheduled to the May agenda.
6. Other Old Business: Councilman Macaulay asked for a quick update on the Solar Consortium. David Murray gave a short report on the progress.
New Business
1.Records Project: The Clerk will be meeting with a NYSARC representative and will report back at the May meeting.
2. Resolution # 6-Cancer Presumptive Bill: After discussion on the resolution Councilman Coffin moved to adopt the resolution, and it was seconded by Councilman Macaulay as follows:
Resolution # 6 of 2017 Firefighters Cancer Presumptive Bill Support
Whereas, it is firmly established in occupational medicine literature that firefighters are exposed to many known and suspected carcinogens every time they respond to a fire scene. Numerous studies have measured levels of chemical carcinogens at structure and vehicle fires-and from the personal protective clothing of firefighters-at concentrations that are considered hazardous and
Meeting Minutes
Town of Morristown
April 11, 2017
well in excess of permissible workplace levels. These carcinogens include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) in soot and tars; benzene; formaldehyde; 1,4 butadiene; arsenic; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s); dioxins, asbestos; and diesel exhaust, and,
Whereas, the uncontrolled environmental conditions that occur during the knockdown and overhaul phases at fire scenes guarantee that firefighters are routinely exposed these toxic chemicals. So, it’s not surprising that studies of cancer in career firefighters find significant associations between firefighting and certain forms of cancer. The evidence is strongest for increased risk of brain, digestive tract (colorectal, stomach), genitourinary tract (bladder, kidneys, testicular, prostate), lympho-hematopietic (leukemia, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma), skin(melanoma), and lung cancers among volunteer firefighters. The current presumptive cancer bills covering firefighters were built on the results of these studies. Why isn’t the same statutory coverage in place for volunteer firefighters? And,
Whereas, there are 110,000 reasons why our volunteer firefighters should have presumptive cancer coverage, and said presumptive cancer legislation should be the top legislative agenda for New York’s volunteer firefighters,
Therefore, Be It Resolved, The Town Board of the Town of Morristown urges Governor Cuomo and the New York State Assembly to pass the Cancer Presumptive Bill: A711 for Volunteer Firefighters to ensure volunteers can be protected from the dangers they face with cancer each and every day.
Vote: Chris Coffin-Aye, Shawn Macaulay-Aye, Frank Putman-Aye
3. Old Mills Road: The Board discussed power poles through the length of the Old Mills Road. They agreed that that process is driven by consumer demand.
4.3Year Budget Process: Councilman Coffin introduced a 3year budget process to the Board. The State Comptroller’s office offers a software model. He will bring further information to the Board at a future meeting.
Department Reports
- Highway Department: A written report was given to the Board. CHIPS Funding will allow approximately 3 extra miles to be paved in 2017.Quotes were provided to the Board for roof repairs at the highway barn. The Board reviewed the quotes. A motion was made by Councilman Macaulay and seconded by Councilman Coffin to approve the quote from Bertrand Construction for $17, 100. The Board noted that they realized cost overruns could occur once the steel was stripped off the roof trusses.
Vote: Chris Coffin-Aye, Shawn Macaulay-Aye, Frank Putman-Aye
The Highway Superintendent notified the Board that he was considering trading in the Cat Loader and would bring numbers to them next month.
2. Code Enforcement Office: A written Report was included in the Board Packet.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned upon motion at 7:53 PM.